Sounds like you need to persuade your Aygo and your R32 to breed - a hybrid of the two would actually be the ideal car!

Joking aside, £18,500 will get you a brand new 5 door Mazda 3 - Mazdas are very reasonable to run, fun to drive and Mazda 3s have a decent boot. They're Golf-sized.

Having just bought a Seat Leon 1.4 TSi I would suggest the Leon TDi 150 PS would be a good choice if the Golf is the right size.

Based on the new Golf platform but ££££'s cheaper with very little difference in interior quality.

My parents are both in their 80's and mother finds getting in and out of some cars difficult or even impossible, the Leon is fine for her.

My 1.4 TSi Leon managed a true 52 mpg on a recent 260 mile round trip. The 150 PS TDi should easily do 60 mpg under similar conditions thus considering the tank is 11 gallons your 600 miles range would be met. Think RFL is £20 a year.

Price wise the SE model weighs in at £19785 and has everything standard that most people want.

Visit the brokers and the price falls rapidly, we bought ours from carfile.net, they have the car listed at £17861 with another £1000 off if you take out the 4.9% PCP. We paid it off after 2 weeks and kept the £1000. The higher specced FR model is about another £1400 more.

If you think the Leon is perhaps a bit small (its the same size exactly as a Golf) look at the new Skoda Octavia. Similar specced cars are about the same price but no PCP offer and some extras are desirable/necessary.

"....look at the new Skoda Octavia. Similar specced cars are about the same price but no PCP offer...."

Skoda have a 0% PCP offer gong at the moment (and I have taken adsvantage of it). I agree with people above - either a Leon or Octavia (depending on how much room you need) with the 2.0 150 bhp diesel engine should tick most of your boxes. Both are cheaper than the comparable Golf. The Ford Focus is a good car too, as is the C-Max if you snd your relatives would prefer a higher seating position.

The advantage of the 2.0 over the cheaper 1.6, as well as performance, is that it comes with a 6-speed gearbox which I would think is essential for your long trip.